When you see this, you’ll know you’ve arrived at the World Maker Faire.

Dug North, maker of Automata (animated wooden sculptures) awaits the Maker Faire rope drop. You can find him just inside the front doors of the New York Hall of Science.

The gates to the 3rd Maker Faire New York are set to open in less than 15 minutes. This year really will be bigger and better than last year with more than 500 maker exhibits, dozens of presentations, workshops and demos, and just a whole lot of maker awesomeness.

The 3D printer village is going to be one of the top draws. There will be hands-on workshops on Arduino, breadboarding, Raspberry Pi 101, and soldering. Part of Maker Faire’s objective is to showcase the work of young makers and there will be a whole area dedicated to the next generation makers.

What else? A lot else.

The Coke Zero/Mentos extravaganza will feature a Las Vegas-like fountain show with hundreds of Coke bottles emitting geysers of synchronized sugary carbonation when Mentos are dropped inside. The shows are set for 1pm and 4pm. Cupcake cars and a driveable hammock will be roaming around the faire. Katy Perry the Unicorn, a multi-functional unicorn sculpture that breaths fire, sneezes glitter and pees the beverage of your choice will be regaling/repelling the crowds. For motor sport enthusiasts, there’s the Nerdy Derby and the Power Racing Series.

Great speakers and presentations will take place on various stages throughout the Faire, many of which will be broadcast on our livestream channels, powered by GE Garages, on Makerfaire.com. Of course there will be lots to eat and drink, too.